AN independent Scotland would double the UK Government’s international aid allocation, the SNP has said.
The announcement comes one year after Boris Johnson faced down a backbench rebellion and cut the UK’s international aid to 0.5% of national income – despite a manifesto pledge not to do so.
The Tories’ 2019 General Election pitch to voters saw them promise to “proudly maintain our commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of GNI [Gross National Income]”.
Dundee West MP Chris Law, the SNP’s shadow secretary for international development, said it was “vital” for the UK Government to reinstate the 0.7% aid budget.
He said the cuts had taken £4 billion from “vulnerable communities and people” around the world.
A policy paper in Law’s name further said that, in an independent Scotland, the 0.7% level of spending would be immediately restored “with a view to increasing that to one per cent in the coming years”.
The paper also said that any plaques celebrating Scotland’s colonial past would be removed.
The SNP said an independent Scotland would address “all Scotland’s colonial crimes by removing/adding plaques that acknowledge the harm . . . [of] that era”.
There would be a decolonisation officer in an independent Scotland’s international development department, and official apologies would be issued to “communities affected” by the actions of Scottish colonisers.
The paper also said that independent Scotland would focus its investment in projects which help empower women and girls.
It said: “By 2035 no less than 95 per cent of indy Scotland’s bilateral international development assistant initiatives will target or integrate gender equality or have a focus on the empowerment of women and girls.”
Law said: "We are one year on from the reckless vote to slash the aid budget by a staggering £4bn and it is vulnerable communities and people that have paid a heavy price.
“Rather than stepping up on the world stage and supporting those in need at a critical time, the UK government shamefully abandoned them.
“The Tory government has cut health and medical funding during a global pandemic. It has cut food programmes during a looming global food security crisis. It has cut environmental projects in the midst of a climate crisis. And it has cut conflict-resolution projects at a time of renewed war. Those deep cuts have likely cost lives.
"If we are to play our part to support communities and protect lives, then it is vital that the UK reinstates the aid budget to 0.7% of GNI."
A UK Government spokesperson told The Times that the UK is still one of the largest global aid donors and spent more than £11 billion in aid in 2021.
They went on: “The government remains committed to spending 0.7 of gross national income on [overseas development aid] once the fiscal situation allows.
“Our international development strategy will help address increasing global challenges, deliver investment, support women and girls, get humanitarian assistance to those who need it most and continue our work on climate change, nature and global health.”
